News Release

Wednesday, January 23, 2002

Last of Stolen Chemicals Recovered in East Los Angeles

East Los Angeles: A 1988 Chevrolet truck, containing five canisters of nitric acid, was stolen from the Del Amo Chemical Company located at 535 West 152nd Street sometime between December 28, 2001, and January 2, 2002. The object of the burglary was the 1998 Chevrolet stake-bed truck and not the dangerous cargo. The nitric acid taken is extremely corrosive and very dangerous if handled. On January 18, 2002, the stolen truck and four of the five nitric-acid canisters were recovered by the Los Angeles Police Department.

On January 23, 2002, at approximately 4:30 a.m., the Los Angeles Police Department's Burglary-Auto theft Division was notified that the fifth and final missing canister of nitric acid was recovered lying in an alley behind the 4700 block of Caesar Chavez Boulevard by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Burglary-Auto Theft Detectives responded to the scene and the canister was transported to the County Hazardous Materials Unit.

The investigation continues to be handled by Burglary-Auto Theft Division. Detectives have significant leads on a possible suspect and an arrest appears imminent. Anyone with information regarding this matter is asked to call Burglary-Auto Theft Division at 213-485-2507. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

The Los Angeles Police Department would like to thank the public and the Los Angeles local media for its help and cooperation in recovering the dangerous nitric acid canisters. Working together, this recovery makes the streets of Los Angeles safer for everyone. Thank You.